1. Building in Second Life
Nikki Price
Engl 197
Professor Raley
3/9/12

2. Helpful Links for Building in
Second Life
• http://www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/NewMedia/
SecondLife/HowToBuildInSecondLife.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szAbCGbqYEI
• http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Building_Tools
• http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Script
• http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki
/Weapons_in_Second_Life
• http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Gun_Script

3. Upon my arrival in the virtual world, many strangers immediately
started instant messaging me. Some offer help, whereas others chat
obnoxiously with each other.
**Note the sign in the image: it specifically warns against the use of weapons. Many
different locations in Second Life have similar signs.

4. The first sandbox where I began building. I found this location
simply by typing “sandbox” into the search engine in SL.

5. A sign displaying a series of rules and regulations. Again note
the specific ban of weapons within this area.

6. My avatar beginning construction of a house.

7. Stretching cubes to form a floor and a wall.

8. Adding a “brick” texture to the cubes, creating a wall like
appearance.

9. Adding a roof on top of my semi-completed structure. I
stretched a pyramid shaped prim to form the roof.

10. Unable to link the parts together!

11. Trying to gain more insight on the building process. There are many tutorials
within the virtual world of SL. In my perspective, these virtual tutorials did not
differ much from the ones I viewed on youtube.

12. My avatar visiting “The Ivory Tower Library of Prims,” a popular
location in SL that has several tutorials demonstrating how to build
a variety of different items.

13. An example of a demonstration within the Ivory Tower of Prims.

14. Visiting a new sandbox. This particular sandbox invites me to join a group, forming a
specific community in relation to this space. Also note the “notifications” that have
appeared on the right hand corner of my screen. The prims I left in the last sandbox
have been returned to my inventory.

15. My avatar struggling with the prims that are supposed to make
up a house. I give up on this construction and decide to build
something new.

16. Successfully linking cynlinder-shaped prims together to form a
gun.

17. Putting the finishing touches on my gun…

18. …but I can’t figure out script! Note the website behind the SL viewer.
I found many online tutorials to script writing, but they were all very
complex—too much for a beginner in SL to learn!

19. After giving up on
building a gun, I decide to
build a couch. I stretch
two cubes and
successfully link them
together to form a modern
looking couch/lounge
chair.

20. I give my couch a “zebra skin” texture, and name it “Zebra Couch.”
Next, I modify the object so that when an avatar clicks on it, he or she
has the option of sitting on it.

21. My avatar sitting on my new couch.

22. Here, I am trying to “rez” my couch, but it will not work in this
particular region. The owner “does not allow it.” Different
regions have different rules and regulations.

23. I return to
“Sandbox Ferox,”
where I originally
created the couch.
Other avatars
immediately
come sit on it.

24. Other avatars engaging with
my couch and with each other.
Left: Chatting with my new
friend “Sakura.”

25. Making an official new “friend” in the virtual space as a result
of interacting with the object together.